Service-meter system.



C. S. WINSTON. SERVICE METER S YSTEM. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 9, 1908.

Patented Deo. 3, 1912.

Chim/'165 Swmeh kwfemcm i incurran ernten.

CHARLES S. WINSTON, GF CHICAGG, ELLNGS, ASSIGNOR TO KELLOGG SWITCHBOARD AND SUPPLY COMPANY, DI G CAGG, XLLINOIS, A CORPORATON OF ILLINOIS.

SEBVCE-METER SYSTEM.

'To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known tliatil, CHARLES S. lViNsroN, a citizen of the United States, residing in VCl1icago,county of Cook, and State of lllililly-invention relates to telephone service c, meter'systelns of the character adapted to fro tWofWi-re .telephone systems ot the central energy type.

The object of my invention is to improve the signaling devices by which the operator isintormed that it is time to register a call against a calling subscriber.

Another object of'my invention is to iniprove the circuits and apparatus, to simplify them and to lessen the expense oi their manufacture and installation.

Other objects of my invention Will appear from the following description and claims.

My linvention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing Which shows all of the apparatus in its normal or unactuated position, and in Which the subscriberls station i is represented as the calling station, and

subscribers station l is represented as the .called station.

Subscribers station l is equipped with the usual annunciator 2, and condenser 8 in a permanent bridge between the line conductors 4 and 5, and With the transmittei1 6 and receiver 7 in a bridge maintained normally open4 by contacts of the switch hook 8. At the central ollice the conductor el is connected with contact 9 of cut-oft1 relay 10 and thence through contact ll, coil of line relay l2 andr conductor 13 With the live pole ot' battery A. Line conductor 5 is connected with earth at the central otlice through the contacts la and l5 oit 'cutbirelay l0. The line relay l2 controls the normally open contacts'l and 17 in the circuit of the line lamp 18. One terminal of the coil ot relay 10 is connected with con tact i9 of that relay and thence through condoctor 20 with the sleeve contact 21 of the answering and multiple jacks, the tip contact 2Q oiiv the answering and multiple jacks being connected with the inside contact 23 of the cut-oil' relay 10. The other terminal of the cut-off relay l0 is'connected through the coil of the line service meter 24 with earth. This service meter may be oit any desired construction but preferably has an Specification of Letters latent.

Application filed January 9, 1908. Serial No.` 409,950.

latented Dec. 3,1912.

yand has the tip and sleeve talking strands extending respectively from the tip 28 ot the answering plug through contact Q9 of the lrey 30, conductor 31 condenser 32, conductors 33 and 34, contact 35 of the ringing key 3G to the tip 37 of the calling' plug, and troni the sleeve Contact 38 of the answering plug through contact. l0 of the ley 30, conductor l0, condenser ll, conductor 42, Contact of the operators ringing key 36 to the sleeve contact lll of the calling plug.

Supervisory relays ll5 and i6 are connected with their coils in series with the battery fr in a bridge between the tip and sleeve conductors on the answering end of the cord circuit. Rel ay Ljl-G controls the normally open contacts 47 and 4S in the circuit oit the supervisory signal 49, the circuit of this signal also normally including the contacts 50 and 5l of supervisory relay 45. Relay 4G also has the normally open contacts 52 and 53, contact being .connected with earth and contact 52 being connected 'with the -normally open contact 511 ot the locking relay .35. Contact 5G of this relay is adapted to nialre connection -with Contact when the relay is actuated and is connected with the coil ot relay 55 and through conductor 57 with the auxiliary contact 58 of the lrey 30, this auxiliary Contact being adapted to malte connection ivith the contact o9 when the key is actuzrted, contact being connected with earth. Across the calling end of the cord circuit the supervisory relays (l0 and 6l are connected in series with the battery A, relay 61 controlling the normally open contacts G2 and G3 in the circuit of the supervisory signal Gl and the relay GO controlling tht` normally closed contacts 65 and 66 in the circuit ot that signal. rlhe supervisory relay GO also has the normally open contact 67 adapted to nialze connection with the contact 66 when the relay is actuated. The,- co-ntact 67 is connected through conductory 68 and the normally closed contacts 69 and ry with the contact 4S of 'y relay (l1 has the norwie 71 and maintaining etftveen the portions BS and 34 ting condi'lctor. Contact 72 is "connected through contact 73 andv with the auz-nli Contact 75 operaturs key contact is yed upon the actuation rue key 76 to connect with the contact 7i" a thence with the impedance coil and with. the cond.' Vlhe other teri'ninal ot the irncoii 75l is connected With earth, i tu. the other terminal et the condenser 7 9 -f connected through the tertiary of `the operator-s induction coil and conductor 8O with the lire pole ot battery l.y The actuation of thev listening key 7G connects the secondiny ot the operators induction coil, the operato-"is 'receiver 81 and 'the condenser 82 in a bridge het-Ween the 'talking strands of the cord rcuit. The operatofs ringing key'has aside from its series contacts and the contacts 83 and 84, Contact 83 being y connected through the ringing generator 85 with earth, and the Contact 811 being connected through the non-inductive resistance 86, andv conductor 13 with the live pole of bat 'tery A.

Having' thus (lescribed the connections ot the apparatus of my invention in its preter-red torno, the operation oit the system is as follows: The calling subscriliier iaving charge olf subscribei"s station 1 removes his receiver 7 from the sivitchshook 8 and coinple Slis les

'ongle conductor v13, the coil ol line re- Vlay l2, contacts 11 and 9 ot cut-ott relay 10, line conductor 4l, transmitter G, receiver 7, switch-hook 8, line conductor 5 and the contants 14 and of cut-oli1 relay 10 to earth. rlfhe current .in this path actuates line relay 152' olosingg its contacts 1G and 17 in the' cir- .it oit the line signal The display ot Y LL gnat attracts the operators attention thereA ire inserts her answering plug i 'lo tlic iack designated bv l". play ol A i hrt", tl'icreby completing theA connectip and sleeve contacts 2S the plu'gr and 'the and sleeve and of the jack. ik circuit is us einpeled troni the live pole ot battery il. through the coil. ot supervisory relay 116, ficcnductor 4l), contact 259 oit the key BO, sleeve contacts and olf the answering plug and jack, conductor Q0, tl e coil ot cut-ott' relay 'lll and the coil ol'A tlielinc service meter 24: to earth. 'the current in this path being sent troni a battery o'l' the usual lll. M. F. ofabout 24 volts, is not sullicicnt to actuate the service i'uctor but is sullicient lto actuate relays 10 and flti. 'lhe actuation of relay l0 moves 'l nnitacts i. and .t4 to their inner positions t severs the circuitolf the line relay;Y 1Q,

llacing the line signal 18. The actuaa circuit from the live pole ot battery tion of relay 46 coinplf the circuit of the supervisory signal 49 at contacts 47 and 48 it that relay. The operation of cut-otf re-.

lay 10, however, immediately completes a second cireuitfrorn the Contact 19 of relay through contact 9 ot that relay, line conductor 4, transmitter (i, receiver 7, switchhook S, line conductor 5, contacts 14 and 23 of the cut-ott' relay 10, tip contacts'QQ and 28 et the jack and plug,.contact 29 of the key 30, conductor 31 and the coil of supervisory relay to earth. The current in this path actuates the relay 45 separating its contacts and 51 and preventing the display of the supervisory signal 49.- lhe operatoivnow throws her listeningr key 76 and obtainsthe nuinber of the desired line. She then raises her calling plug and touches. its tip contact 37 with the sleeve contact 21 of the jack of the desired line. It the line is busy the sleeve Contact of one of the multiple jacks will be connected with the sleeve contact of another cord circuit and will therefore be maintained at a'potential higher than that oit ground. Currentwill therefore flow from the sleeve or testing Contact over the tip 87 *througl'r contact 35 ot' the ringing key 36,

over conductor 34, through contacts 72 and' 72:3 olf the supervisory relay G1, over conductor 711-, through the now closed auxiliary contacts 75 and 77 of the operators listening key 7G to arth through the impedance coil 7S. VThis slightly lowers the potential of one terminal of the condenser 79. and causes a partial discharge ot that condenser. This discharge current produces a disturbance in the tertiary and an .inductive disturbance in the secolnlary ofthe opcrators induction coil and causes a slight click to be produced in` the ope ators receiver. rlf no click is heard, however, thc operator knows that the desired line is idle and therefore releases lier listening key and inserts her calling plug completely into the jack of the desired line causing its contacts 37 and 44 to register re spcctively with the contacts i2 and 2l of the jack. The. operator now throws her ringing key 3G and immediately completes a circuit trorn the live pole of battery A over conductor 13 through the non-inductive re sistance 8G, contact'84 of the ringing key 236, sleeve conductors 44 and Q1 of the plug and jack, conductor Q0@ the coil of cut-olf relay 10 and the coil of line service meter 24 to ground. The current in this path is sullcient to actuate the cutof relaylO but is `not sufficient to actuate the line service mctactsi 19 of cut-off relay 10', conduetor 20@ sleeve cont-acts 2land 440i the Jack l and plug, contact 84 of the ringing key 36,

non-inductive resistance 86 and conductor '13 to ground l.through the battery A and thence back to the other pole of the ringing vgenerator 85.*A The current'from the generfator 85 being alternating passes through t-he condenser'il and sounds the :annunciator bell 2. The'operators ringing key86 is rei leased after asinglesi'gnal. hasbeen given and immediately upon its release a new Acircuit is formed from sthe live pole'. of batteryA through `the coil" of supervisory.y relay 61, sleeve' conductor42, contact 43 of the ringing key36, sleeve contacts 44 and 21 of the plug and jack, eonductorlQO'f, the coil of relay 10 and the coil'of thejline service meter 24 to ground. The current in this path ac- 4contacts 65 `and 66 of' supervisoryrelay 60 to ground, thus displaying the signal 64 and l scriber.

' the indicating to the operator that the called subscriber has'not yet answered his call. .Upon the response of the called subscriber a new circuit-is completed from the live pole of battery A' through'the coil oit-supervisory relay 6l, conductor 42, contact 43 ot the ringing Akey 36, sleeve 'contacts '44 and 21 of plug and ja'clnconductor '20',1 contacts 19 and 9 of the cut-o relay 10, line c0nductor 4', transmitter 6, receiver 7", switchhook 8', line conductor 5, contacts 14 and .28 oi1 cut-ofi relay 10,.'tip contacts 22l andl 37 of the jaclt'and. plug, contact 35 of the lreyfSG, conductor 34,. the now closed contacts 72and7l of relay 6l, conductor 33 and the coil of relay 60 to the ground p'ole of battery A. Current in this path actuates relay 60 and opens the contacts 65 and 66 of that relay, thus severing the circuit'of the.. supervisory signal 64 and e'acing .that signal. The actuatiol' of relay 60 completes the circuit' betiveeniits contacts 66 and 67 and thus completes 'a path for current from the live pole 'ot battery A through the supervisory signal49, contacts 47 and 48 of the upervisoryrelay 46, contacts 70 and 69 ot locking relay 55, conductor 68and conacts 67 and 66 of relay 60 to earth. This displays the answering supervisory signal 49 vghich indicates to the operator that thesub. serib'ers have received their connection and are in conversation, andthat itis now time register aV call against the calling subice meter lrey 36 connecting the sleeve spring The generatorSB being of a higher potential The operator non7 throws her Aservthan the battery A furnishes sufficient current through the sleeve contacts and 'l et the plug and jack, conductor S20, the coil ot cut-oil:1 relay 10 and the coil of the service v meter 24 to actuatethe service meter, this generator 'being preferably otl about 50 volts The actuation of the service -meter key also closes the auxiliary contacts 58 and 590i the service meter key' so that the4 relay vvill not again be denergized until'its circuitis severed bythe denergization ot the super- -visory relay 46, whereby the contacts and 5 3 of that relay Will be severed. The actuation ot relay 55 separates the contacts 69 and 70 in the .circuit of tl'iesupervisorysignal 49 and therefore ett'aces that signal and maur -tainsv it etfaced during thc remainder of the ator that the conversation has terminated.

The operator now removes her answering and calling plugs from their respective aclts and thereby severs the circuits through the cut-off relays 10 and lO andthe supervisory relays 46 and 6l. As soon as the supcrvisory relay 46 falls back to its normal pcsition and severe the contacts 52 and the circuit of locking relay 55V is interrupted and that relay v resumes its normal condition. The apparatus is noiv in normal condition' throughout and all ofj't-he'signals are etiaced.

While my invention is shown and described in combination. with certain details it is to be understood that these detailsv are not all of them essential -to my invention, and thatl ldo not Wish to be unduly limited thereto many variations from the. system here shown being possible Without departin from the spirit or scope of my invention.

I claim: l

. l. In a telephone system, the combination with a telephone line, of a servicemeter having lits coil permanently connected betiveen one ot the talking `conductors .and a return conductor, a cord circuit to connect with the line, a source of current associated. with the cord circuit and adapted lo furnish current to vthe line .during conversation .l the current romsaid source through saidservice meter Cit li t) Y of the telephone line when an abnormal current from flowing through the subscribers instrument', substantially as described.

2. ln a telephone system, the combination with a telephone line having two conductor jacks at the central ottice, of a cut-of relay having one ot the terminals of its coil connected withone o'l' the contacts of said jacks.` a service meter comieeted between the other terminal of the coil ot the cut-ott relay and a third conductor, a cord circuit and a source oit currentassociated therewith to furnish current tor the actuation of said service meter, substantially as described.

3. In a telephone system, tlte combination with a telephone line having a two-conductor jack at the central otlice, of a cut-ott relay and a service meter having their coils connected in series between one of the contacts of said jack and a third conductor, a cord circuit to connect with the line, a source ot' current normally connected with one of the strands of said cord circuit and adapted to be connected with said cutotl relay and service meter when the cord is connected with the line, said source being of insutlicient electromotive torce to actuate the service meter, a` second source associated with the cord circuit' adapted to be mtanentarily connected with the coil ot the cut-ott relay and service meter, said source being' of sullicient elect roniotive 'torce tor the actuation ot the service meter. substantially as described.

-'t. ln a telephone system, the combination with a telephone line havinnY a two-conduc tor jaclt at the central ottice, et a cut-otf rel l said signal a'tter the lay and a service meter having` their coils connected in series between one ot the contacts ot said jael; and a third conductor, a cord circuit to connect with. the line, a source oit current normally connected in a bridge between the strands ot said cord circuit and adapted to be connected between the limbs the cord is connected with the tine, a service meter ltey having series contacts in the strands ot' said cord circuit. adapted when actuated to dis` connect said source ,troni the limbs ot the teleplu-ine line, a sei-ond.'source adapted to .be connected with one ol the limbs ot the telephone line when said service meter hey is actuated lsaid source being' adapted to vturnish current. "tor the actuation ot the service meter, substantially as described.

ln a telephone system, the .combination with a telephone line, of a cord circuit to connect therewith, a supervisory signal associated vwith each end of the cord circuit, the answering supervisory signal being adapted' to be displayed when a called sub scriber answers his call, a service meter key associated with the cord circuit and adapted when actuated to efface said answering supervisory signal, and means to prevent the redisplay of said signal until the calling subscriber terminates his conversation, substantially as described.

6. In a telephone system, the combination with a telephone line, of a service meter for the line, a cord circuit to connect with the line for conversation, an answerin supervisory signal associated with the cor circuit adapted to be displayed when a conversation has been established, a hey for thecontrol'of said service meter, and means to efface said signal by the actuation of said key, substantially as described.

7. In a telephone system, the combination with a telephone line, of a service meter for the line, a cord circuit to connect with the line, an answering supervisory signal associated with the cord circuit and adapted to be displayed when a conversation has been established, and means under the control of the operator for actuating said service meter. the. actuation of said means also eaeing said signal, substantially as described.

S. ln a telephone system, the combination with a telephone line, ot' a cord circuit to connect therewith, a service meter for the line. an answeringy supervisory signal associated with the cord circuit, said signal hein;Y adapted to be displayed when a conven sational connection has been established to indicate to the operator that it is time to actuate the service meter, and means to ettace service meter has been actuated, substantially as described.

Vln a telephone system, the combination with a telephone line, of a cord circuit to connect therewith, a service meter tor the line, an answering supervisory signal assoeiated with the cord circuit, said signal be ine' adapted to be displayed when a converlsational connection has been established to indirate to the operator that it is time to actuate the service meter, and means to efface said signal after the service meter has been actuated, said signal bein:r again displayed when the calling subscriber terminates bis conversation, substantially as de'-, scribed.

Signed by me and State of Illinois, witnesses. V

at Chicago, county of Cook, in the presence of two CHARLES S. WINSTON.

lVitnesses CLIFFORD C. BRADBURY, `MARJORIE E. GRInn. 

